Steam-meter and reducing-valve



.(No Model'.) A' 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

l B. WILLIAMS. Steam Meter andy Reducing Valve.

Patented June' 14,188.1.

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(N0M0de1.)' I' zsneets-sneeta B. WILLIAMS. SteamMeter and Reducing Valve.

No. 243,025.y Patented 111.1914, 188|.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEErcE.

BENEZET'IE WILLIAMS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

STEAM-METER AND BEDUCING-.VALVE- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters .Patent No. 243,025, dated June 14, 1881.

Application filed August 2G, 1880. (No model.)

To all tinkom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENEZETTE WILLIAMS, a citizen of the United States, residing in Chi-V cago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented a Steam-Meter and Reducing- `Valve,which can be used, in combination with apparatusbelongingtoasystemofpublicsteamheating, to measure the quantity of steam delivered toA consumers, or that can be used in combination 'with any steam machinery when the quantity of steam is to he determined; and I do hereby declare the following toV be a full and correct description of what I consider the best means of carrying out the invention.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specication.

Figure 1 of the drawings illustrates a longitudinal section vertically made through the center of the machine, while Fig. 2 shows a section horizontallymade through' the machine at the point indicated by the broken line in Fig. 1'. Fig. 3 shows an elevation of the `work- .ing parts and meter-chamber,' and Fig..4 a plan view of the gearing and the top ot' the meter-chamber.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in all the figures.

pressure to the measuring-machine. eration I accomplish in the following manner:

A, Figs. 1 and 2, is a steam chest or cham` ber which supplies the reducing-valve. `It is1 really a prolongation or projection of the sup-1 ply-pipe into the valve-chamber E.

The valveconsists of a hollow cylinder, B, Aextendingupland down through the chamber A, and securedthereto by a nut, as shown, o'r in any suitable manner, in which a tripart or three-part piston works. `The piston consists of three close-fitting cylinders', C0002, at"

tached to the piston-rod D. Through the shell Vwhich the piston-rod D is screwed.

of the hollow cylinder D four horizontal rows of holes are made, two rows, c e, falling inside of and `connecting lwith the chamber A, and two,a e', fallin g inside of and connecting with the valve-chamber E. These holes form the pdrts through which the steam passes from the chamber A to the valve-chalnber`E, as indicated by the bent arrows in Fig. 1. It is evident that thequantityof steam whichwill pass with a given loss of pressure will be determined by the position ofthe piston C C G2. If pushed low enough, it will open the port-s entirely, while if raised high enough it will close them so that no steam will escape. Between these limits itis possible to secure an operation of the piston, so that any quantity of steam may pass while keeping the pressure constant in the chamber E. This is done by connecting the piston-rod D with a compound metallic diaphragm, F, which is so constructed that with a decrease of pressure in the valve-chamber the piston is lowered, and` with an increase it is raised, thus opening and closing the ports of the valve to a greater or less extent as occasion requires.

The diaphragm is composed of one or more .pairs of circular disks of elastic sheet metal with a circularholein the center oi'each. These annular disks are riveted or fastened together in some other way, the two constituting a pair,

4being joined at their inner edge or circumference. It' `more'than one pair 1s used, the pairs are joined in the same way at the outer edge ot' the disks, as'shown, thus `forming a series of pairs. The `disks may be either flat and attached by interposing rings between them, or they .may be'bent into the shape shown or into any. other desired shape.

To the lower disk of the diaphragm is fastened, at its o uter edge, a stili' vibrating plate,

G, while the upper disk is attached to the top of the valve-chamber E.`

Attached to the vibrating plate G, and passing looselythrough the hole in, the center of 9 5 the diaphragm,is a hollow cylinder, H, into A collar I OO.

J, is screwed,'the top of which is a knife-edge, which furnishes an adjustable bearing for the lever K. The lever K is held at the short end to the top of the valve-chamber by a hook, I, and is loaded at the end of the long arm by the weight L to any desired amount.

When steam is admitted to the valve-chamber E, so that the pressure acting upon the diaphragm F is in excess of the balancing force of the weight L, the piston of the valve is raised and the discharge ports partially closed. If the pressure is reduced in the chamber E, the reverse operation occurs.

Modifications may be made in some ot' the details.

In the drawings the vibrating plate G is attached to the lower part of the diaphragm and steam is admitted to its outside, the inside. being exposed to the atmosphere. The same e`nd may be attained by placing the`vibrating plate 011 the top and admitting the steam to the inside of the diaphragm.

It is also evident that the diaphragm may be placed in any position with reference to the reducing-valve. It may be underneath, at the side, or removed to a distance from the valve, and act upon it through the medium of levers. In short, the intention of this part of my invention is fulfilled when one or more pairsof elasic metallic disks are connected in a manner similar to the one shown for the purpose of securing a greater or freer movement of described, the steam is measured on passing through the meter proper. This latter consists of a cylindrical meter-chamber, M, in which a continuous rotary motion is communicated by the steam to three wings, N N2 N3.

Each wing is attached separately to its respect- .vel part O O2 O3 of the compound axle, and is made to fit the meter-chamber M with or without metallic packing. The compound axle O O2 O3 turns upon a hardened-steel pivot, P. The compound axle extends through the top plate of the meter-chamber into a gear-chamber above, which may or may ynot be a part of or in communication with the valve-chamber E. Each of the three parts O 02 O3 of the compound axle carries an elliptical gear-wheel. Each wing, with its respective part of the axle and gear-wheel attached, is free to move independently of the other wings within certain limits. The gears Q Q2 Q3, attached to the compound axle, are geared respectively with corresponding duplicate elliptical wheels, R R2 R3, set upon the axle S, so that their major axis makes an angle of one hundred and twenty degrees, or one-third of a circumference, with each other. Steam is admitted to the meter chamberfrom theinduction-chamberTbeneath through the induction-port T', and presses with an equal pressure upon each of the two.wings N2 and N2,with which it comes incontact rst.

' But since the elliptical wheel Q3, corresponding to the wing N3, acts with a shorter arm upon the longer arm of its companion R3, while the elliptical wheel Q2, corresponding with the wing N2, acts with a longer arm upon the shorter arm of its companion R2, the revolution-of the wings will take place with different velocities in the direction indicated by the arrow toward the eduction-port U. After the wing N3 has reached the eduction-port U the steam will press against the wings N2 and N one or more ofthe wings always remaining between the induction and eduction ports.

The eduction-port U communicates with the eductionchamber U, which, in turn, connects with a discharge-pipe, which transmits the steam to its destination. ofthe wings a given quantity of steam is discharged. Hence it is only necessary to multiply the number of revolutions by the capacity of discharge to determine the volume of steam discharged in a given time. The record is kept by means of a pinion on the axle S, which communicates motion to the axle V, which passes through a stufng-loox into a register-chamber, W, where it works a set of ordinary recording-gears. (Not shown.)

tical wheels described can be secured by means of gears made on any form of'true rolling curves in which the arm operating during a part of the revolution is longer than the one operating during another part. The ellipse, however, furnishes an easier and steadier motion than can be obtained with other curves.

The invention avoids the necessity for the movable abutment commonly required. The principle will be readily understood by mechanics. There is always a wing interposed in the short space between the induction-orilice T and the eduction-orifice U', which the motion of the meter requires shall be moved against the pressure of the steam. This taxes the machinery of the meter to maintain the motion; but there is always another wing sweeping around on the opposite side ofthe compound axis,which the motion of the meter causes to be moved with the pressure of the steam, or, in other words, in obedience thereto. These wings are of equal area, and if they moved with equal velocity the pressure on one would neutralize that on the other; but inasmuch as the wing which is moving in the short space between the two orifices moves against the pressure of the steam very slowly, while the wing which is on the other side of the compound axis moves with the pressure of the steam much more rapidly, it follows that .the meter works continuously and successfully, measuring the volumes of steam very accurately. A

The volume of steam delivered at each revolution may be determined mathematically from the relative motions of the wings; or it may be determined by trial in any givenV machine. It may be relied upon as uniform.

A similar motion to that given by the ellip-v At each revolution IOO ' ven tion.

The gearing should be made sufficiently strong to allow for the occasional existence of considerable difference of pressure in the induction and eduction passages.v In the ordinary working a difference of pressure in passing through the meter will be scarcely appreciable, and the strain through the gearing will be correspondingly slight.

My meter as here shown may be allowed to run at a very high velocity without injury. ln such` case the gearing is somewhat taxed to overcome the inertia in alternately increasing and diminishing the speed of the respective wings.

The diaphragm and reducing-valve can be separated entirely from' the meter without departing from the novelty or nature of my in- The advantageof combining them, however, is very great, as it secures compactness, reduces the radiating-surface, and renders the machine easily incased in a closed box that can be thoroughly protected from lossof heat.

My invention is especially adapted to use, under any and all conditions, where steam is to be measured to small consumers.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure ervoir into another, substantially as shown and set forth.

2. The combination of the diaphragm F, the vibrating plate G, the cylinder H, the pistonrod D, the adjustable nut J, the lever K, the weight L, the piston C, the hollow cylinder B, and the chamber A, forming a reducing-valve, by means of which steam is admitted from a supply-pipe at higher and variable pressure to another chamber or reservoir, as E, at a lower and constant pressure, substantially as shown and set forth.

3. The meter-chamber M, having the induction and eduction chambers T U and ports T U', in combination with the compound axle O' O2 O3, wings N N2 N3, pivot P, and clliptical gears Q' Q2 Q3 and R R2 B3, and` suitable connections from the shaft S, as herein specitied.

4. The combination of a pressure-reducing device serving to maintain in the chamber E a uniform pressure, notwithstanding variations inthe pressure in the chamber A, and a meter serving to measure and indicate the volume of such reduced steam passing through the apparatus, as herein specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto se my hand, at Ohicago,111inois, this 20th day of August, 1880, in the presence of two subscribin g witnesses.

BENEZETTE wILLIAivrs.`

. Witnesses: l

J As.V H. CUNNINGHAM, CHAaLEs MACRITCHIE.- 

